For many of us, Facebook is part of everyday life. It’s where we interact with friends and colleagues, follow our favorite celebrities, and stay on top of the latest news. Many of us see Facebook as an extension of ourselves, which is why having your Facebook account hacked can be more than just humiliating.
A hacked Facebook account can damage your reputation, expose private information, or even cost you money. If you suspect that your Facebook account has been hacked, the first thing to do is change your password. 24newsgh can confirm these tips to boost your account security.
1. Create a strong, secure password
Your Facebook password should be difficult to guess, yet easy for you to remember. Avoid including your name, birthdate, pets, or common words in your password.
- The longer the password, the more difficult it will be for others to crack. One way to create a strong password is to think of a long-phrase or series of words that you can remember, but that nobody would ever guess.
- Always include numbers, a mix of upper- and lower-case letters, and symbols in your passwords. Aim for at least 10 characters.
- Try making an acronym out of a memorable sentence or song lyrics. For example, “I’m gonna take my horse to the old town road” could be iGTMhtthotR9! Who would guess that?
2. Do not use your Facebook password on any other website or app
You should have a different password for every service you use. For example, let’s say you use the same password for Facebook as you do for TikTok. If your TikTok is hacked, the hacker can also gain access to your Facebook account.
3. Set up Login Alerts
On a computer:
- Go to https://www.facebook.com/settings?tab=security.
- Click Edit next to “Get alerts about unrecognized logins.”
- Choose how to receive notifications and click Save Changes.
On a phone or tablet:
- Open the Facebook app and tap the menu (the three horizontal lines) or the large F at the bottom-center.
- Scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy.
- Tap Settings.
Tap Security and Login. - Tap Get alerts about unrecognized logins.
- Choose how you want to receive alerts.
4. Enable two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication gives your account an extra level of security by requesting a security code when you log in from an unknown browser. You can choose to receive this code via SMS text message or using an authentication app like Google Authenticator. After setting up two-factor authentication, you’ll be given options for recovering your account in case you lose access to your second device (your phone).
- Go to https://www.facebook.com/settings?tab=security.
- Click Edit next to ” Use two-factor authentication.”
- Select Use Text Message and follow the instructions to receive codes via SMS (most common), and follow the on-screen instructions.
- Select Use Authentication App to use an authentication app like Duo or Google Authenticator, and follow the on-screen instructions.
Using a phone or tablet:
- Open the Facebook app and tap the menu (the three horizontal lines) or the large F at the bottom-center.
- Navigate to Settings & Privacy > Settings.
- Tap Security and Login.
- Tap Use two-factor authentication.
- Tap Use Text Message and follow the instructions to receive codes via SMS (most common), and follow the on-screen instructions.
- Tap Use Authentication App to use an authentication app like Duo or Google Authenticator, and follow the on-screen instructions.
